Polar RS100 Heart Rate Monitor Review

The Polar RS100 is an introductory heart rate monitor designed for runners who just want he basic heart rate and timing features of a training watch. A lot of the recording and training features found in other higher-end models have been omitted from this product. The Polar RS100 also isn’t compatible with most of the accessories that Polar sells that limit its use to some extent. But if your looking for a no-frills way to help improve your fitness by incorporating heart rate training into you cardio workouts, the RS100 might be right for you.

One of the more important features that’s not included in this product but can be in higher-end models is the Polar Fitness Test. In other monitors, this test measures your personal aerobic fitness level at rest and calculates your personal OwnIndex by evaluating your maximal oxygen uptake or VO2max. The RS100 makes it’s calculations base upon an age-based formula (HRmax = 220 – age), which isn’t as accurate of a reading as the one provided in the Fitness Test.

According to Polar feature list another thing missing from this product is a user replaceable battery. So there’s going to be a cost involved if you ever need to change the battery.

Polar RS100 Body Measurement Features

Automatic age-based target zone (bpm/%)

Average and maximum heart rate of each lap

Average, minimum and maximum heart rate of training

Heart rate (bpm/%)

HR-based target zones with visual and audible alarm

HRmax (age-based)

Manual target zone (bpm/%)

Polar OwnCal – calorie expenditure

Polar OwnCode – coded transmission

Polar Own Zone – personal heart rate zone

Polar RS100 Training Features

HeartTouch – button-free operation

Number of laps – 99

User configurable displays – top line

Polar RS100 Watch Features

Backlight

Date and weekday indicator

English only

KeyLock

Low battery indicator

StopWatch

Time of day (12/24h) with alarm and snooze

Water resistant – 50m

All Polar heart rate monitors come with a 2-year warrantee that guarantees their products to be free from defects in material or workmanship from the date of purchase. This warrantee only applies to the original consumer of the heart rate monitor.

Training with a heart monitor is a great way to improve your fitness level by helping you to train at the correct intensity during training. This entry-level product does accomplish that basic goal admirably. But if your looking for more advanced training features and data recording, you might want to look at another model in the product line.